Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined District 3 City Commissioner Robert F. Stuart, in proclaiming October 24, 2016 “Light Up Rotary to End Polio Now Day,” in recognition of Rotary International’s commitment to ending the polio disease worldwide. Today’s date is significant as it is the birthday of Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine.

Robert F. Stuart, in proclaiming October 24, 2016 “Light Up Rotary to End Polio Now Day,” in recognition of Rotary International’s commitment to ending the polio disease worldwide. Today’s date is significant as it is the birthday of Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine.

To raise awareness for this important cause, the City, at the request of the 49 Rotary Clubs that make up local district 6980, will light up Downtown Orlando red this evening.

See Art Orlando Sculptures, including Take Flight, Union and Cedar of Lebanon all located around Lake Eola, Global Convergence at the Orange County History Center and Astrogenesis on S Orange Ave at Church Street will all glow red tonight in honor of World Polio Day.

City Venue locations to go red include the Fountain at Lake Eola, the ORLANDO sign at Camping World Stadium, the Tower of Light and fountains at City Hall.

In 1988, when Rotary and its partners committed to eradicating the disease, polio still paralyzed more than 350,000 children per year in 125 countries, more than 1,000 children per day. Rotary has contributed more than $1.5 billion dollars to ending polio and has been recently assisted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matching every dollar raised 2:1. Today, the number of polio cases has been reduced by 99.9% with less than 19 in two countries to date in 2016.

If eradicated, polio would be only the second human disease to do so, after smallpox.

“As a Rotarian and a member of the Orlando City Council, I am grateful for the City’s support of this important cause. What an awesome accomplishment it would be to eradicate polio worldwide in the very near future,” said Commissioner Robert F. Stuart. “With Orlando being an international destination, our support can be felt globally and serve to inspire other communities to stay involved in this cause.”